Fort Irwin, CALIF -- The Fort Irwin Community gathered together on September 12th to remember the terror attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, and honor those who fell that day and in the 15 years of combat that resulted from those attacks.
National Training Center and Fort Irwin leadership, Soldiers and the community held a remembrance walk and a memorial service beginning at Army Field and concluded with a memorial service at the post chapel.
Featured in the Remembrance Walk was New York City ladder truck #152, one of the ladder trucks that responded to Ground Zero after the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. NYC #152 will become part of the permanent 9/11 memorial at the National Training Center.
According to garrison commander, Col G. Scott Taylor, the events of 9/11 are deeply connected to the military and especially the National Training Center and Fort Irwin. "We have been training our nation's warriors ever since for this mission to make sure that never happens again," said Taylor. "And I think it's very important that the American people never forget."
During the memorial Taylor told the community, "It's very easy to get caught up in the comfort of our daily lives, especially 15 years later, it's very easy to get caught up in the security provided by our military, our police by our fire fighters, it's easy to forget, and it is absolutely appropriate that we take a day out to remember that day, so that we never let it happen again."
Taylor stated that terrorism is about intimidation and trying to coerce change, all for the worse.
"I also think it's equally, if not more important that we resolve to never let it change us," he said.
The terrorist attacks resulted in the loss of 343 firefighters and EMS personnel; 60 law enforcement officers; 125 Pentagon staff; 2,753 civilians, and; more than 7,000 United States military personnel, who perished since Sept. 11, 2001.
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